Footwear



' oct. 24, 195o W. J SCHAEFFLER FOOTWEAR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 29, 1948 i l|||| H Oct. 24, 1950 w. J. scHAEFFLl-:R

FOOTWEAR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 29, 1948 Patented Oct. 24, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOOTWEAR Wilhelm J. Schaeffler, Arlington, Va.

Application June 29, 1948, Serial No. 35,919

(c1. ais- 2.5)

Claims.

This invention relates to footwear and is more particularly concerned with footwear for use by persons engaged in activities requiring firm reinforcement and protection of the foot such as in parachute jumping, hockey, skiing and ski jumping.

In providing footwear o-f the ty-pe mentioned, certain factors must be taken into consideration. One is to provide means Iwhereby the shoe or boot can be comfortably adjusted to the foot of the wearer. Another is to provide means for securely holding the shoe or boot on the foot. Still another is to provide protection for the foot against shock and impact particularly about the ankle region, regardless of the angle of impact or shock.

Previous footwear of this type have been deficient in one or more of these respects. None of them have all the essential characteristics necessary.

It is an object of this invention to provide footwear of the type mentioned which is superior to those of the prior art in furnishing complete comfort to the wearer, means for firmly attaching it to the foot and means to resist shock y The following description considered together with the accompanying drawing `discloses this invention more fully and further objects and advantages thereof will be apparent.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view of the preferred embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the rear portion of the preferred embodiment, partly in section.

Fig. 4 is a section alo-ng the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring with more particularity to Figs. 1 to 4 showing one embodiment of this invention, the numeral I I designates a sole member of the shoe which may be constructed of as many plies or of any thickness desired depending upon the use that is to be made of the shoe. For example, in skiing, the sole would =be relatively thick, while in parachute jumping it may be thinner to reduce Weight and permit easy Walking after landing.

The upper part of the shoe is composed of two complete units, namely, an inner member I2 and an outer member I3. Both of these units ure means is independent of the other.

2 completely cover the foot when inserted in the shoe and both units are firmly secured to the sole, such as by tacks I4.

Each unit I2 and I3 extends above the ankle region and is provided with closure means, such as lacing devices I5 and I6. Each of these clos- The inner unit I2 is also provided with a tongue member I1 beneath the lacing or closure means I5. The tongue member II is provided with a. thick resilient pad or cushion I8, such as of sponge rubber, on its underside.

The walls of the inner unit I2 are also fabricated of a soft material, such as soft leather, so as to t snugly and comfortably about the foot of the wearer.

The other unit I3, on the other hand, is fabricated of a less yieldable material, such as hard, thickleather in order to absorb shock and impact stresses.

Suitable plastic composition may be used instead of leather for either or both of said units so long as they possess the desired characteristics as set forth above.

The upper edges of these units are secured together around the sides and rear, such as by stitches I9, thereby providing a pocket on either side of the shoe between the two units along the entire wall thereof. Within these pockets padding material 20 and 2| is disposed adjacent the ankle region and adjacent the area defined by the normal depression in a human foot between the ankle bones and the heel, an area frequently subject to injury in strenuous activities of the type mentioned.

The padding material 20 and 2| is preferably of sponge rubber to provide a resiliently yieldable cushion. However, other materials may be used, such as mohair, fleece, cotton batting, etc., although sponge rubber is preferred. The padding material or cushions are also preferably secured in position, such as by gluing, stitching or otherwise to prevent them from shifting out of position. Each cushion is ypreferably secured to only one ofthe units I2 and I3 while being slidably engaged with the other to prevent the setting up of any strains between the units by providing a, degree of freedom of movement of one unit relative to the other, particularly when the shoe is being secured to the foot of the wearer. Better results are obtained by securing the padding material to the walls of the outer unit I3.

In putting on the shoe the foot is first inserted within the inner member I2 which is then closed about the foot and secured by the securing means I5. The soft yieldable material of which the inner member is fabricated and the cushioned tongue member l1 makes it possible to secure the shoe firmly to the foot without discomfort or looseness. The outer or casing unit I3 is then closed tightly about the inner unit and secured in place by the securing means I6. The cushions 20 and 2| not only serve to `protect the foot yagainst impact stresses .and shock, but also to distribute the pressure of the other unit evenly so as to avoid any uncomfortable pressure points.

When footwear is fabricated in accordance with this invention for skiing or ski jumping, the back of the heel 28 may be provided with grooves to engage the hgel strap `of ski securing devices. It is preferred, however, to enlarge the heel member somewhat toward the rear to provide an upwardly .facing shoulder 29 in cooperative relation with diagonal grooves 30 on either side of the heel. The back of the heel strap rests directly onv the shoulder 29 and the sides in the grooves 30. By providing this rearward offset in the heel, it 'is unnecessary to I groove the rear of the heel as customarily done.

It is also preferred to fabricate the front part of the shoe with a rounded toe section rather than the usual square or :box-like forms, to provide greater comfort. This permits the applica.- 'tion of metallic reinforcements along the sides and upper edge Vof the sole at the sides of the toe section and makes it possible to'secure the vfront part of the shoe to the Skiby clamps 'bearing directly against the reinforced shoulders rather than by Ithe usual straps passing over the .toe section of the entire shoe. By eliminating such straps, it is not necessary Ato fabricate the toe section in the cumbersome square or -boX-like form, thereby permitting it to be in a rounded form as i1lustrated,`like an Yordinary shoe to provide the maximum degree of comfort.

I claim:

1. A shoe comprising a sole and two upper members, one within the other secured to said sole 4and extending upwardly above vthe ankle region, said upper members ,having each independent means for releasably securing them about the foot of the wearer, means .securing the top edges of said members to .each other to form pockets on either side of the shoe between saidmembers adjacent the .ankle region of the foot and resilient cushions within said pockets.

2. A shoe comprising a sole .and two upper members, one within the other secured to .said sole and extending upwardly above the ankle region, said upper members having each independent means for ,releasab'ly securing .them about the foot of the wearer, means securing the top edges of said members to each other to form pockets on either side of the shoe between said members adjacent the ankle region and resilient cushions within said pockets, the inside upper Y sole extending laterally beyond the sides of the member being of a soft eXible material and the 'upper members to provide upwardly facing shoulders clear of :sa-id upper members, at least two of said shoulders being on opposite sides of the shoe, 'metallic plates on said opposing shoulders adapted to engage means for securing the sole to an underlying device.

.4..A shoe comprising a sole and two upper members, one within the other secured to .said sole and extending upwardly above the ankle region,.said upper members having each independent means for releasa'bly securing themabout the foot of the wearer, means securing the top edges of .said members to each other to form 4pockets on `.either side of the shoe between said members .adjacent the ankle region of the foot and resilient cushions withinsaid pockets, said resilient cushions being each secured 'to a wall of one of the upper members.

.5. A shoe .comprising 1a Ysole and two upper members, one within the other secured to said sole and vextending upwardly above the ankle region, said upper members having each independent means for releasably .securing .them about -the footfof the wearer, means .securing .the top .edges of .said Y.members -to each .other to form rpockets on either side of the shoe between said members xadjacent the .ankle region of vthe lfoot and resilient cushions within said pockets, .said .resilient cushions .beingeachsecured to a wall of one of the upper members and slidably engaged with respect .to the .other upper member.

WILHELll/I J. SCHAEFTLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES |PATENTS Number Name Date 387,119 Stevens July 31, 1888 .991,036 Spiegelman May 2, 1911 1,743,689 Scraggi-ns Jan. 14, 1930 .2,287,026 Craig Vet al June 23, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 74,844 Norway July 19, 1932 78,485 Norway Oct. 13, 1931 '213,614 Switzerland Feb. 28, 194:1

` 735,084 France Aug. 13, V1932 843,697 France Apr. 3, 1939 

